He has managed some much-loved football teams over his 39-year career.

But perhaps none of them will be as close to Sir Alex Ferguson’s heart as the 11 players he led out onto the pitch yesterday – his beaming grandchildren.

Last night the Manchester United legend spoke of his strong family ties as he revealed it was his love for his wife Cathy that convinced him it was time to retire.

Delight: Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with his grandchildren and the Premier League trophy

Interested party: Sir Alex Ferguson's final home game as Manchester United boss was watched by his wife Cathy (right)

In an emotional interview minutes after his final home game he said he reached the decision after Cathy, his wife of 47 years, was left devastated by the death of her sister Bridget.

Sir Alex, 71, said: ‘I decided to retire last Christmas. Things changed when my wife Cathy’s sister died. She has lost her best friend, her sister. Also, I wanted to go out a winner.’

His decision to quit shocked football when it was announced last week. And Sir Alex confessed it had been difficult for him to keep it a secret in a season when he won his 13th Premier League title with the club.

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He said: ‘There were times when we sometimes blurted it out to the family.’

Fighting back the tears he added: ‘First of all it’s a thank you to Manchester United. It has been the most fantastic experience in my life. I just wanted to say thank you from all the Ferguson family, thank you, thank you.’

Sir Alex also wrote about his family in his programme note saying: ‘I must pay tribute to my family. Their love and support has been essential.

Final hurrah: Sir Alex Ferguson addresses the crowd after his side's 2-1 home victory against Swansea - his final home game in charge

‘My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of stability and encouragement. I would like to thank them all.’

Lady Ferguson, 74, made a rare appearance at Old Trafford yesterday to see Sir Alex’s last home game in charge – a 2-1 win over Swansea.

She was in the crowd with her sons Mark, 45, twins Darren and Jason, 41, and their eleven grandchildren when Sir Alex made his farewell speech.

He was later embraced by his new family team – as they went onto the pitch wearing Manchester United shirts with ‘grandad’ written on the reverse.

Sir Alex led Manchester United to 38 major trophies in his 26 years at the club. Yesterday more than 71,000 fans waved red flags at Old Trafford as they paid tribute to their retiring manager.

He told them: ‘I have been very fortunate I have been able to manage some of the greatest players in the country, let alone in Manchester United.’

He added: ‘My retirement does not mean the end of my life with the club. I will have the joy of watching them rather than suffering with them.

‘If you think about it, those last-minute goals, the comebacks, even the defeats are part of this great football club of ours.’

And he later said: ‘It’s fantastic. What a send off. I was bubbling there for a bit. The atmosphere was unbelievable. I’m very proud of my fans, they were great. I’ve had a few days of wobbling a bit but you have to gather yourself.’

After his speech Sir Alex and his Manchester United team were presented with the Premier League trophy, the 20th championship in the club’s history.

In an emotional speech following the full-time whistle of his side's 2-1 victory against Swansea City, Ferguson was given his special moment in front of the adoring fans.

He was then allowed the honour of lifting the Premier League trophy at the awards ceremony that followed.

He began by thanking the club, the staff and the players over the years for supporting him throughout the years.

'I have been very fortunate to be able to manage some of the greatest players int he country, let alone Manchester United,' said Ferguson.

'All of these players here today have represented the club the proper way, they won the championship in fantastic fashion, so well done to the players.

'My retirement doesn't mean the end of my life with the club, I will be able to enjoy watching them rather than suffer with them.'

Over to you: Captain Nemanja Vidic insists Ferguson lifts the Premier League trophy

Winners: Ferguson shares the joy of being Premier League champions with his squad

Interestingly, Ferguson then pleaded with the supporters to back the incoming manager, Everton boss David Moyes.

'I'd like to remind you that when we had bad times here the club stood by me, all of my staff stood by me, you're job now is to stand by our new manager.

'I wish the players every success in the future, you know how good you are, you know the jersey you're wearing, you know what it means to everyone here, don't ever let yourselves down.

'I just want to say thank-you once again from all the Ferguson family, they're all up there, 11 grandchildren. Thank-you, thank-you.

Support him: Ferguson has asked fans to back incoming Manchester United manager David Moyes

Match-winner Rio Ferdinand added after the game: 'He deserved to have three points on his final home game.

'It's emotional, it's like his his second home. To hear him say it (retiring) we were devastated.'

And prolific striker Robin van Persie, who Ferguson signed ahead of this trophy-winning season from Arsenal, added: 'It was a really sad day, everyone is very thankful to him for all those years.

'It is a massive honour for me to have worked with him for one year, even though it was just one year, it had a massive impact.

'The way he is, the way he handles his players, the way he is himself, he is amazing.

'He is a great manager, maybe the best ever.'

Michael Carrick added: 'We wanted to win the match as we wanted to do it for the boss as well as everyone else.

'It was a special, special day.

'The response from everyone and the guard of honour and the atmosphere was electric, and something I will never forget.'

It
was a fitting tribute to signal the end of Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure
as Manchester United boss as his side secured a 2-1 victory at home to
Swansea City on an emotional day at Old Trafford.

Rio Ferdinand's goal three minutes from time handed Ferguson a dream victory for the champions.

Well done grandad: Ferguson's grandchildren paid their own tribute to the outgoing Manchester United boss

In the history books: Left, Ferguson's grandchildren entered the pitch to join in the party celebrations, which the legendary manager sealed with a kiss of the Premier League trophy

In the history books: Ferguson's Premier League win sealed a glorious football management career

Javier Hernandez' drilled effort had put the champions ahead in the 38th minute, but one of the finds of the season Michu levelled things up three minutes into the second period.

Ferguson, in one of his final acts as Manchester United manager, also revealed what many have already been speculating - that Wayne Rooney HAS asked for a transfer

'There was only one way we can express ourselves in a proper way, and they all did that. They all played some good football,' he said of the game.

Then asked as to why Rooney wasn't in the squad for the game, he added: 'I don't think Wayne was keen to play, he has handed in a transfer request.

'He wasn't happy about being taken off a few times this season but a Wayne Rooney in top form wouldn't be taken off.'

Goodbye: Ferguson praised the club, the staff and the fans during the emotional speech

Happy ending: Ferguson shows his delight with Ferdinand's eventual winner, and right, the fans show their support

He went on to confirm that one of the big things he will miss is those 'last minute goals.'

Ferguson is not the only United legend who has decided enough is enough, with midfielder Paul Scholes deciding to hang up his boots.

Scholes announced his retirement for a second time yesterday, having resumed his career in January 2012 after initially quitting the game at the end of the 2010-11 season.

The 38-year-old former England man started today's game and played for over an hour before being replaced by Anderson, and he said afterwards: 'It's been a good day. We won the game and that's all that matters. We've picked the trophy up and we'll celebrate tonight.

'I haven't played for four or five months so it was just nice to get through the game and win it.

On his way: Ferguson revealed that Wayne Rooney, pictured holding aloft the Premier League trophy, has asked for a transfer

'I thought it went quite well. You thought it would have been quite emotional for him (Ferguson) but he spoke well at the end of the game and he has done a fantastic job here, that goes without saying.

'He's just happy now and is looking forward to what the team are going to do next year and hopefully we can go on from here and win more trophies.'

On his retirement, he said: 'I know it's the right time. It's not the season I would like to have had but we've won a trophy and that's all that matters to the team.

'It's a great day. We won the game and won the league.'

Another of United's veterans, winger Ryan Giggs, said Ferguson was determined to win today's match and to do it with a good performance.

'He (Ferguson) just said play the game and not the occasion. He wanted to win the game, he wanted his last game at Old Trafford to be entertaining and to win and to do all the things we've done over the years since he's been manager,' said Giggs.

'All players have got a part of play, whether they are players who have not achieved much or older players who drive them on.

On his favourite memory of Ferguson, the 39-year-old Welshman said: 'There's not a favourite time. The memories that stick out are ones from when I was younger and 13, 14, playing for Salford boys. I would look over to the sideline and there is the manager of Manchester United. That is amazing for a 13-year-old and the relationship has just built.'

The 71-year-old Manchester United manager has overseen a whopping 13 Premier League title successes as well as two Champions League victories.

Scholes was chosen as anticipated after also announcing his retirement yesterday, but Rooney was not named by Sir Alex, who said on Wednesday that his 27-year reign is ending.

Tribute: Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen and son Kai wore United red for Sir Alex's final home game in charge

Celebration: The Rooney family pose with their winner's medals after the end of the game

Sir Alex stated in today’s programme notes: 'I must pay tribute to my family. Their love and support has been essential.

'My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of stability and encouragement.

'I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication.

'Their backing and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular gave me the confidence and time to build a club rather than just a team.

'The Glazer family have provided me with the platform to manage Manchester United to the best of my ability.

'And I have been fortunate to work with a talented and trustworthy chief executive in David Gill.'

The move by Sir Alex to leave out
Rooney
- who was sold to United from Everton by Moyes in 2004 - increased
speculation that the striker could be on his way out of the
club.

Great respect: Sir Alex emerges from a guard of honour before his last home match in charge of the club

Impressive spectacle: Sir Alex applauds as he takes to the pitch for his last home game in charge of the club

Support: Manchester United manager Sir Alex signs autographs after arriving on the pitch at Old Trafford

Emotional: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reacts after arriving on the pitch at Old Trafford

United insisted on Wednesday the
England striker was not for sale, but a source said Rooney has held talks with Sir Alex in recent weeks and
indicated he wanted to leave.

'I must pay tribute to my family. Their love and support has been essential'

Sir Alex Ferguson

Those discussions took place before Sir Alex announced he was retiring at the end of the season. The United legend stunned football when he announced he was stepping down.

Only last weekend, in his programme notes for the match against Chelsea, Sir Alex - who has won 38 trophies during his reign. including five FA Cups - insisted he wanted to carry on indefinitely.

Sir Alex, who previously managed Aberdeen, took over at United in 1986 after the sacking of Ron Atkinson. His first trophy was in 1990 as United beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in an FA Cup final replay.

Appreciation: Manchester United manager Sir Alex shakes hands with supporters as he takes to the stands

Making his way: Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson takes his seat in the dugout for the last time

Hotseat: Sir Alex takes his place before kick off in the Barclays Premier League match against Swansea City

Last home game: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson arrives at Old Trafford ahead of the match today

Meanwhile Scholes said he is happy for his retirement to slip under the radar as Sir Alex also bade farewell to Old Trafford.

The United midfielder announced his
retirement for a second time yesterday, having resumed his career in
January 2012 after initially quitting the game at the end of the 2010-11
season.

He is notoriously media-shy and joked
that the news surrounding Sir Alex's retirement - plus continued
speculation about Rooney's future, had given him the opportunity to slip
away quietly.

'It couldn't be any better could it?'
Scholes said. '(The speculation of) Wayne Rooney asking for a transfer -
there's not much else that can go well for me. Yeah, it's the perfect
weekend for me.'

Tribute: Supporters wave red flags before Sir Alex Ferguson's last home game in charge of Manchester United

Capturing the moment: A Manchester United supporter holding a mask of Sir Alex Ferguson prepares to take a picture outside Old Trafford (left), where another fan holds up a sign showing her appreciation (right)